Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored (A. Huxley)

Category Archives: Pope Benedict XVI

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This week there will be no posts here at T&P. At home, we are preparing for Pope Benedict’s arrival in Madrid for the WYD 2011.

More than 1 million and a half are to arrive this week to celebrate this great event for all the Catholics. There are people from India, Yemen, Ethiopia, Poland, USA, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Portugal, Chile, Mexico, etc, etc. The organization has even scheduled events regarding religious persecution with both a photo-exhibit and some speeches by people who have suffered persecution.

Al Qaeda said in a video that western leaders are easy targets citing as examples Berlusconi and Pope Benedict XVI. In a 100-minute long video circulated on June 2 by the Al Qaeda media arm “As Sahab”, western leaders are described as easy targets, as they are less difficult to hit. The video message cites, as examples, Pope Benedict XVI, who was knocked down by a Swiss woman during the 2009 Christmas mass and Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi who suffered face injuries when attacked by Massimo Tartaglia in Milan on December 13 2009

I would like to watch this on the news. It’s shameful this is not being really reported (at least here, it isn’t):

Campaigners have welcomed the intervention by Pope Benedict XVI on behalf of refugees from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan who are being held hostage in the Sinai Desert by people traffickers.

Hundreds of refugees from the Horn of Africa have been held for months on the outskirts of a town in the Sinai Desert in purpose-built containers, where Bedouin people traffickers are demanding payment of up to US$8,000 per person for their release, though the hostages had already paid US$2,000 for passage to Israel.

On 1 December Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Human Rights Concern Eritrea, Agenzia Habeshia and EveryOne Group issued a joint appeal for urgent international intervention in the plight of the refugees, who are currently being held in degrading and inhumane conditions, bound by chains around their ankles and denied adequate food and water. The appeal details extreme methods of torture suffered by the refugees, including electric shocks, to force friends and families abroad to make the payments. The women in the group, who have been separated from the rest, are particularly vulnerable to severe abuse.

During his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI invited pilgrims “to pray for all situations of violence, intolerance, suffering in the world, that the coming of Jesus may bring consolation, reconciliation and peace. I think of the many difficult situations, such as the continuous attacks that occur in Iraq against Christians and Muslims, the clashes in Egypt where there were deaths and injuries, the victims of traffickers and criminals, such as the drama of the hostages, Eritreans and of other nationalities, in the Sinai desert. Respect for the rights of all is the prerequisite for peace. Our prayer to the Lord and our solidarity can bring hope to those who are suffering.”

A senior Iranian religious leader told Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran on November 11 that he expects Pope Benedict to consider the Qur’an as holy as the Gospels and to condemn US actions in the region. Cardinal Tauran is the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.“We expect the Pope to… consider the Qur’an as holy as the Gospels and Torah and condemn the disgraceful act of torching the Qur’an,” said Grand Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli.

“Look to Iran’s east; people are killed in Afghanistan and Pakistan everyday. Look to the West; terror and killings continue daily in Iraq,” the grand ayatollah continued. Across the Middle East, murder happens daily.”

a) Never, ever, a Catholic would consider anything holy but the Catholic Bible, which is NOT the Torah (although some books are taken from it). But NEVER EVER NOT EVEN with a psychiatric problem, would a Catholic consider the Qu’ran as holy as the Bible. In fact, for a Catholic, the Qur’an is not holy at all.

I don’t like Tauran (he’s one multi-culti fellow) and I expect he hadn’t told him anything but that. I don’t like either that Joint Commission between the Vatican and Iran. What do they have to speak about with a country that has recently condemned a Christian to death on apostasy charges?

b) Of course, Iran has nothing to do with terrorism in the Middle East, hasn’t it? Hamas, Hizbullah, the Iraqi insurgents…

(…) the recent Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, which took place in the Vatican from 10 to 24 October 2010, was a significant moment of reflection and sharing on the situation in the Middle East and on the great challenges placed before the Catholic communities present there. In some countries these communities face difficult circumstances, discrimination and even violence and they lack the freedom to live and publicly profess their faith. I am certain that the work of the Synod will bear good fruit for the Church and for the whole of Society.

So the answer is “consider the Qu’ran as holy as your book“. Yeah, sure. Get a life, cleric.

The president of the Spanish Federation of Islamic Religious Entities (FEERI), Mohamed Ahmed Ali, does not share the view expressed by Benedict XVI during his trip to Santiago de Compostela on the development of secularism “strong and aggressive” in Spain, since in his opinion, what is happening is a “certain strangement from religion.” According to the president of the Union of Islamic faith in Spain (UCIDE), Riay Tatary, this separation doesn’t exist “among Muslims”.

Speaking to Europa Press, FEERI representative explained that “secularism in Spain doesn’t exist, because the Catholic Church continues to have privileges,” so that, in his opinion, what “exists” is an strangement from the religious fact” that is “much more pronounced in Catholicism” and that “can’t be mistaken with laicism”. Continue reading →

Man can not live without freedom, and without truth and ” Honestly seeking and aspiring to truth is the condition of authentic freedom.” This the first message addressed by Benedict XVI to Spain, where he arrived this morning (saturday) at 11.30. The first leg of the two day visit is Santiago de Compostela, the culmination of the “Way” that down through the centuries has seen pilgrims from around the world come to pay homage to the Apostle James.

On arrival, a foggy day, the Pope was greeted by the Prince of Asturias, Felipe and Letizia of Spain, with whom, after the welcoming ceremony, he also had a private meeting.

Benedict XVI, from his arrival, called himself a pilgrim. “I wish to join the great host of men and women who down the centuries have come to Compostela from every corner of this peninsula, from throughout Europe and indeed the whole world, in order to kneel at the feet of Saint James and be transformed by the witness of his faith“. “In his deepest being, – he continued – man is always on a journey, ever in search of truth. The Church shares this profound human desire and herself sets out, accompanying humanity in its yearning for complete fulfilment. At the same time, the Church pursues her own interior journey which, through faith, hope and love, leads her to become a transparent sign of Christ for the world. This is her mission and her path“.

Zaatero went yesterday to say goodbye to the Pope as he went back to Rome. The joke here is that Zapatero was really making sure the Pope went back to Rome.

This is the best part of his message in Spain. His words about aggressive laicism, weren’t well received by the Government. Anyway, the worst thing of these two days has been the huge hypocrisy shown by Spanish polititians. They are always telling everyone that the Catholic Church is an antique and that the priests are a bunch of conservative guys who support Franco in disguise and protect pedophiles or something of the sort. Well, these days they have exhibited a “devotion” so marked (even crossing themselves and going to church) that it’s really moving.. if you don’t think that there is a crisis and they need the votes. 🙄

BY the way, Spanish MSM (with very few exceptions) have insisted on the “cold reception” that Barcelona, in particular, has given the Pope. So, I’m copying from Australian News.au.com (found) and you can judge:

Among an estimated 250,000 people gathered for the Pope, thousands watched on giant screens outside and broke into applause as his blessing transformed the edifice into a Basilica.

MK protests about the bias of AP. Spanish MSM are even worse. Just a comparison: last Saturday in Madrid there was a demonstration against Govt-ETA negotiation (again…) that gathered several thousand people in protest. Nearly no MSM have reported on it, but the gay kissing at Barcelona, has been widely reported.

Anyway, the worst weren’t the kisses: you can kiss wherever you want and I don’t think that anyone gets shocked at an homosexual couple kissing these days. The worst were the “slogans” they chanted and above all the one that says “the church that lights is the one on the flames“. Of course, none of them do this when Iranian or Saudi representatives come to Spain on official visit. So, it’s true what the Pope said about anti-clericalism and laicism, and that’s why some people have not taken it really well.

Well, I am a really Angry Catholic Infidel after reading what you’re about to read and it’s probable than you finish the post, you are angry too. The post is a bit long, so I apologize in advance.

Iraqi hostage of Catholic Church "Lady of the Salvation" after being released

Deeply moved by the violent deaths of so many faithful and of the reverend priests Tha’ir Saad and Boutros Wasim, I wish, on the occasion of the Sacred Rite of funerals, to participate spiritually, while praying that these brothers and sisters be accepted into the mercy of Christ in the House of the Father.

For years this beloved country has suffered untold hardships and even Christians have become the subject of brutal attacks that, in total disregard of life, an inviolable gift from God, want to undermine trust and peaceful coexistence. Continue reading →